Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of AAKS, Ghana shares her expertise as a panellist on The Guardian's Branding masterclass webchat

April 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

The 'The Guardian' UK hosted an online webchat entitled: 'Branding masterclass - how to tell your business story in a new market' - on 29 April between 12 and 1pm. Representing Africa was the highly talented Akosua Afriyie-Kumi the founder and creative director of AAKS, Ghana. AAKS is a luxury accessories brand that handcrafts bags utilising traditional weaving techniques. LoA joined the webchat and got to ask Akosua her thoughts on the current Afroluxe market trend.

Video: Jesslynn Schlamm founder of Lulu & Marula talks about her entrepreneurial journey

April 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Watch Jesslynn Schlamm's interview on the kykNET TV programme 'Winslyn' where she talks about her startup Lulu & Marula and her personal entrepreneurial journey and experiences.

Pietie Coetzee - The startup story of a retired sporting legend now building her company and brand

April 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Pietie Coetzee, founder of PC15 — **Pietie Coetzee**, founder of PC15

Pietie Coetzee is a field hockey legend who recently retired from the sport and has started a new phase in her life building a sports company and brand. As a top-level international sports woman, Pietie had an amazing, record-breaking career and she now harnesses that same passion and determination for her new business as a sportspreneur and in her advocacy work campaigning for cancer awareness.

10 tasks that a busy Entrepreneur can handover to a great Virtual Assistant

April 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Guest Post by: Karen Wessels, co-founder and COO of VA Connect

I know how busy you get during the day, tying up loose ends and making sure the boat is still floating at the end of the day. The key to saving valuable hours in the day as a busy entrepreneur is quite clear – get the help you need by hiring a Virtual Assistant.

Wangechi Mwangi founder of Kenyan fintech startup Valuraha, has been awarded the 2015 Global Social Impact Award by GSEA

April 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

(Centre) Wangechi Mwangi, co-founder and chief executive officer of Valuraha (Kenya) — (Centre) **Wangechi Mwangi**, co-founder and chief executive officer of Valuraha (Kenya)

On April 17th the US-based Entrepreneurs' Organization's (EO) Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), the premier global competition honoring the top student entrepreneurs who have founded and are running revenue-generating businesses, named Wangechi Mwangi, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Kenyan fintech startup Valuraha, as winner of the Global Social Impact Award. The award gala took place at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.

Johannesburg entrepreneurs harness the local urban market trend providing artisanal food and lifestyle shopping

April 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

When it comes to finding great places in which to hang-out and relax at the weekend, Johannesburg urbanites can now add to their lists a wealth of on-trend destinations downtown in the old converted industrial warehouses of the City, now transformed into artisanal food and entertainment spaces. The latest of these developments is The Sheds@1 Fox Street.

A window of opportunity opens for Africa’s fashion industry - the trick is to keep it open

April 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ngyenzi 'Nunu' Mugyenyi, co-founder and director of award-winning Ugandan fashion retail outlet, BOLD Kampala, gives her thoughts on the opportunities presented to the African fashion industry through the recent global interest in African print fabrics.

Dr Jennifer Riria named 'Africa Economy Builders – Entrepreneur of the Year for 2015'

April 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Jennifer Riria, founder and Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding has been named as the Africa Economy Builders – Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2015. She will be the first woman from East Africa to win this prestigious pan-Africa award that seeks to reward and recognize persons who have contributed significantly to Africa’s growth.

Quote of the Day

April 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

"The sad truth is there isn't a formula for success for women - or a path to the C-Suite. What we can do, though, is hear (women's) stories. We can hear how they built their businesses, what their business is and let them strut their stuff."

- Stephanie Ruhle is an anchor and managing editor for Bloomberg Television and editor-at-large for Bloomberg News, based in New York. She serves as co-host of "Market Makers," and regularly interviews industry titans. Prior to joining Bloomberg, Stephanie served as a Managing Director in Global Markets Senior Relationship Management at Deutsche Bank. There, she oversaw relationships for some of Deutsche Bank's largest hedge fund clients.

Rainat Komolafe - The startup story of a Nigerian entrepreneur taking all the stress out of shopping for your baby

April 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Rainat Komolafe, founder of Babies Essence, Nigeria — **Rainat Komolafe**, founder of Babies Essence, Nigeria

For new parents-to-be in Nigeria, planning for the new arrival can be a little daunting, particularly if it is a first baby. So, entrepreneur Rainat Komolafe has created a startup business, Babies Essence, taking all the guess work and effort out of the process, providing a genuinely one-stop shop for everything needed to welcome the new member of the family into the world.

Young entrepreneurs supported with a creative showcase at Kamers Johannesburg

April 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Kamers Autumn 2015 at St John's School in Johannesburg

The rising consumer interest in young, creative startups and the appeal of the artisan 'maker & crafter' phenomenon is being acknowledged by the Kamers creative pop-up exhibitions and showcases. The Kamers Young Entrepreneurs Initiative is a conscious move to provide local, young and talented entrepreneurs with a subsidised exhibition opportunity at the hugely successful Kamers series of events across the country.

Viva La Revolución! Fashion Revolution in South Africa

April 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Guest Blog by Georgie Polkinghorne

Fashion Revolution is an International Day celebrating sustainable and ethical fashion in key cities around the world. Cape Town commemorated its own Fashion Revolution Day on Friday 24th April at the Bello Studio at the Old Biscuit Mill. Cape Town’s fashion community, from editors to designers, gathered to celebrate the country's best sustainable and locally produced fashion. LoA fcovered this exciting event....

3 Inspiring women recognised at Ugandan MTN Awards

April 24, 2015 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Kembambazi Sabiiti, Lindsay Handler and Barbara Ofwono — L-R: Kembambazi Sabiiti, Lindsay Handler and Barbara Ofwono

This month, Uganda is celebrating the achievements of three inspirational women, all recognised by the prestigious 2015 MTN Women in Business Awards. Barbara Ofwono, founder of Victorious Schools took home the much coveted overall award of MTN Women in Business SME CEO of the Year, applauded for her outstanding use of MTN Business’s overall service and value propositions to grow her business substantially.

Essential Read: 'Do Cool Sh*t' by Miki Agrawal

April 24, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Miki Agrawal, author, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker and tv personality — **Miki Agrawal**, author, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker and tv personality

Do Cool Sh*t: Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After is less of a how-to book and rather more of a personal roller-coaster ride of a story on how one hip, trendy and highly ambitious entrepreneur did it for herself. It is unconventional in its approach, yet hugely inspirational, encouraging, funny and liberating for anyone reading it.

Tamara Watkins & Akila Hunte - The startup story of two passionate online fashion retailers opening global markets to African women designers

April 23, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Tamara Watkins, co-founder of shopDOKU.com — **Tamara Watkins**, co-founder of shopDOKU.com

One of the key challenges often facing talented and ambitious African women fashion designers is how to access global markets and successfully position their brands to international buyers. Tamara Watkins and her business partner Akila Hunte have a solution - their passion for raising awareness of emerging design talent, particularly from the African continent, led the team to set up an online marketplace, shopDOKU.com, retailing the creations of emerging designers to buyers in North America and the United Kingdom.

Amy Sinovich - The startup story of a South African jewellery designer telling inspirational stories through her wearable art

April 22, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Amy Sinovich, founder of Resonate by amy — **Amy Sinovich**, founder of Resonate by amy

There is something truly wonderful about translating the power of storytelling into beautiful pieces of bespoke, wearable art that connect on a deeply personal level with the person commissioning it. Amy Sinovich is an incredibly talented South African jewellery designer that is one such storyteller par excellence. Every unique handcrafted piece she creates from precious metals and semi-precious stones tells its own story, inspired by nature, poetry and the life of the person for whom it is made.

Sheila Mokgoadi - The startup story of a woman building a handcrafted Afroluxe jewellery brand with a modern twist

April 22, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Sheila Mokgoadi, founder of Azura Luxury Handcrafts — **Sheila Mokgoadi**, founder of Azura Luxury Handcrafts

Inspired by the unique, joyous nature of traditional African jewellery design, Sheila Mokgoadi’s luxury brand, Azura Luxury Handcrafts, has created a range of bold, chic and highly desirable pieces that appeals to the most sophisticated global buyers. Her dedication to ensuring the highest levels of craftsmanship, combined with a fiercely modern design aesthetic, are what make this African luxury jewellery brand so unique.

Save the date! Bold Kampala's world tour to arrive in Kigali on 16th May

April 21, 2015 Melanie Hawken

The Bold Kampala World Tour continues at a pace, hot on the heels of the team's great success in London recently. This time, the Bold Kampala team is heading to Kigali in Rwanda to showcase some of the most fabulous fashion items in its latest pop-up store concept.

Rapelang Rabana - The startup story of an entrepreneur harnessing the power of technology to empower learning

April 21, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Rapelang Rabana, founder & CEO of Rekindle Learning — **Rapelang Rabana**, founder & CEO of Rekindle Learning

A long-term interest in learning and education, combined with a belief that mobile and internet technology will be instrumental in solving a number of socio-economic challenges at scale, led successful techpreneur, Rapelang Rabana, to establish Rekindle Learning. This highly innovative learning and development company is using the power of mobile and computer learning applications to enable access to knowledge in the palm of their hands.